Fans react while listening to Australian pop singer Sia during the South by Southwest festival at Stubb’s in Austin. [Edward A. Ornelas/210SA contributor]

The annual see-and-be-seen buzzfest known as South by Southwest finally wrapped up its five-day 2008 run on Sunday, March 16. 210SA was on the scene, and did our best to cover as much ground as possible. Here are five things we learned during our travails in Austin.
 
1. FREE IS ALWAYS BETTER
In a festival where weeklong passes ran upwards of $1,000, one of the best SXSW shows was free and open to the public.
THE RUNDOWN: Hip-hop legend Ice Cube dazzled thousands of onlookers at Auditorium Shores, delivering a one-hour set that was chock full of hits. Among the hit singles: “Natural Born Killaz,” “You Can Do It,” and the song that made N.W.A. legendary, “Straight Outta Compton.” Twenty-plus years in the game, and Ice Cube still ranks among the heaviest of hip-hop heavyweights.

2. VAMPIRE WEEKEND DRAWS BLOOD
The “buzz band” award for SXSW 2008 goes to Vampire Weekend.
THE RUNDOWN: Of course, it's hard to call them a buzz band when they've graced the cover of Spin, achieved radio success and become a viable mainstream entity. Even so, the indie quartet was the talk of the town at SXSW. But as anyone who has heard Vampire Weekend's brilliant self-titled debut, such a heaping of praise is well deserved.

3. FASHION INCREASES LISTENING PLEASURE
SXSW isn't just a music festival. It's an unofficial fashion show.
THE RUNDOWN: Every hipster in the lower 48 states, and others from across the globe, gathered in Austin to display their unique tastes in clothing. Unique meaning that everyone in sight was clad in the exact same getup: tight black jeans, tight black shirts, flat-ironed hair and black boots (guys) and black leggings, bohemian tops and black-rim glasses (ladies). Of course, such rebellion against the mainstream was counteracted by the fact that everyone in sight came equipped with a BlackBerry or iPhone.

4. THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM
Former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and friends had people talking all weekend.
THE RUNDOWN: 210SA didn't hit SXSW until Friday, March 14, and by then, we'd already missed what some regarded as the best show of the weekend. That would be the “Body of War” showcase, which featured Morello, Ben Harper and System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian. According to NME.com, the “Body of War” showcase, which took place at Stubb's on March 13, centered on the story of Thomas Young, a disabled Iraqi veteran.

5. ROCKERS ARE TONING IT DOWN
Rockers are definitely exploring their softer sides these days.
THE RUNDOWN: Speaking of Morello ..... despite his rising to fame as a member of rock-infused Rage, his SXSW show was of the laid-back, acoustic variety. And he wasn't the only one to tone it down over the weekend, as former At the Drive-In member Jim Ward showcased his Americana side with his latest project, Sleepercar, while Alexisonfire guitarist/vocalist Dallas Green played with his indie solo project, City and Colour.
 
Clint Hale | 210SA